Today's Flowers: Late Bloomer

I have been watching the single bud on a volunteer black eyed susan (rudbeckia) plant closely, doubting it would bloom before the first hard freeze.

I am very pleased that it has bloomed, almost a full month after all the rest of my black eyed susan have already gone to seed. As a matter of fact, this plant was probably grown from one of those seeds on my other plants that a bird may have dropped in the pot on my deck.

When I first saw the plant growing in a pot whose other plant had already finished for the season, I assumed that there was no way it would grow fast enough to bloom before winter. However, when it did grow quite fast and a bud formed, I became fascinated with what seemed to be a race against time. The flower is a bit curled, perhaps since it's had to endure some chilly days and nights as well as less sunlight as the days shorten. However, I think it's quite charming in its late bloomer fashion. These shots were taken over the past few weeks with the last shot taken this week when it finally opened all the way.

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